Medical imaging-quality assessment and improvement system (QAISys)

Abstract

The business method known as QAISys (Quality Assessment and Improvement System) is a process that rates comprehensively and continually the quality of medical images as determined by the interpreting radiologist. The output of this system conveys feedback from the radiologist to the performing technologist and his / her supervisor. This feedback enables medical radiologists, technologists, and managers to bridge any communication gaps between themselves in respect to the quality and effectiveness of medical images. It permits management to assess and track image quality for an entire medical imaging department by modality, location, and / or shift, and for each individual technologist. The QAISys method reveals the nature of recurrent quality failures and highlights which exam types need to be improved. QAISys then indicates practical, cost-effective means of assessing and improving the overall medical images for future patients.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 570,013 filed May 11, 2004 by Richard B. Dale and titled “MEDICAL IMAGING—QUALITY ASSESSMENT and IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM (QAISys)”.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]This present improvement relates to A BUSINESS METHOD in Health Care Management. Specifically, this new method relates to QUALITY ASSESSMENT and IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM (QAISys) in MEDICAL IMAGING. The method provides a unique way to combine a computer assisted implementation of administering, managing and operating the Quality of Medical Images. The method provides a technique to aid in the feedback, instruction, and improvement to the medical technologists. The method is specific to the individual personal skills of the technologist as these skills relate to the quality of the images that the technologists provide. The method provides a way to combine various existing systems with simple, new analysis to accomplis...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The QUALITY ASSESSMENT and IMPROVEMENT SYSTEM (QAISys) in MEDICAL IMAGING is a new method that helps improve the quality of medical images by providing data and a way to improve the quality of the individuals who work in the field. The system is designed to work with existing health care information systems and can be tailored to different needs and demands. The method involves a collaborative effort between technologists, radiologists, and managers of technologists, and it helps to identify areas for improvement and focus on those areas for training. The system also helps to improve the overall quality of the service to patients, reduce medical errors, and provide quick and accurate diagnosis. Overall, the QAISys method provides a way to efficiently and effectively improve the quality of medical images."

Problems solved by technology

Importantly, never has any prior art provided a solution in one system or method to virtually address all the above stated problems.

Again there lacks any discussion of using the data to improve the quality derived from individual technologists or departments.

This does reference radiology and photo processes but does not establish or provide any business method to incorporate the results into an improvement system involving the radiologist, technologist and supervisor.

The system permits text and image access and inputs but does not teach a technologist quality improvement system.

While this may complement the new QAISys presented here, it does not teach or imply the use of the data inputted to improve the quality of the technologists' efforts.

Additionally, no claims for improvement to technologist's capabilities are provided.

It does not teach or claim using the data for improving capabilities and quality enhancement of the technologists in the medical image field.

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